DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Monday visited the Sakaka Independent Power Photovoltaic Solar Plant – the first renewable energy project under the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative, state news agency SPA reported. Accompanied by Habib Abdul-Samad – the Assistant Undersecretary for Development Affairs, the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources – Khalid Al-Falih was shown the progress on the $320 bln project, which forms part of the Vision 2030 commitment to renewable energy and is due for completion by the end of the year. Once complete the plant will have a production capacity of up to 300 megawatts to meet the energy needs of approximately 45,000 homes in the Al Jawf region. Falih met with management and workers on the site and praised the work so far, expressing his confidence that the project would be completed on time. Mohammed Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power – which leads the project - said one of the main objectives and commitments of the Sakaka solar photovoltaic project was to achieve 100 percent local power generation during the first year. He said the project also aimed to provide training and employment opportunities for young people through the Higher Institute for Water and Electrical Technologies in Rabigh. The Sakaka photovoltaic project covers six square kilometers and is the first in a series of renewable energy projects launched under the National Renewable Energy Program, which seeks to achieve the plan and targets of the Saudi Renewable Energy Vision by producing 58.7 GW of renewable energy by 2030.